Finished - an epic mashup shirtdress

Stubbornness or determination? Both basically mean the same thing don’t they, it’s just the context in which they are used that determines if the trait is a positive or negative one..... anyway I’m well aware that I’m both stubborn and determined and this became obvious last year when I decided that I wanted a loose fitting post partum shirtdress that was Kalle-esque or perhaps Blaire-esque. Both patterns for gorgeous frocks but I had a mule-like moment (perhaps triggered by the knowledge I wouldn’t be working for 6 months) and decided that surely, SURELY I could mash up something in my collection to get a similar style without buying yet another pattern.... (of course I did end up buying the Kalle but lets not dwell on that).

And so I did. Don’t ask me to remember the exact nitty gritty but I started with the Sew Over It Alex shirt dress (from their Capsule Collection) for its placket, lack of back yoke and straight loose fit. A yoke would definitely have complicated things. I added the neckline, collar and collar stand of the Named Helmi shirt. I used the shoulder and cut on sleeve shape of Marilla Walker’s Maya top pattern (massive shoutout to Marilla who kindly resent me the A0 copy version that she released a couple of years after the original came out - I was too fat and lazy to be bothered reprinting and taping). Then played around with the Leisl and Co Bento tee cuffs until they fit the sleeve openings.... it was a faff, I’ll admit, but I got there in the end. Most epic mashup ever!

The fabric is from Tessuti, and is a curious cheese clothy- double gauzy- seersuckery linen cotton blend from memory. It’s two layers of fabric woven in a cool geometric pattern. The wrinkly texture allows one to get away without ironing, if one is time poor. The buttons are from the fantastic Arrow Mountain, a buttonmaker based here in Melbourne. They’re bamboo and I’m pleased to say are holding up well to fairly frequent gentle machine washing.

I was so pleased with my frock that I couldn’t bear to risk trashing it with my old machines crappy buttonhole function, so had great fun trying the automatic buttonhole function on Anna’s Bernina. Reminded me a bit of the auto parking function on my VW Golf. Which I have never been brave enough to use!

It’s been a great dress to wear this past summer and autumn, good for breastfeeding access and fantastic for its relaxed lumpy-body skimming fit. I like it so much I know I’ll still be wearing it next summer! What’s the mashiest supermash mashup you’ve ever attempted?

That is an epic mash up! It looks awesome, that fabric is great and I love the bamboo buttons with it! I need to get my Arrow Mountain buttons out, I put them away safely and keep forgetting to use them...

I love this dress! You did a great job mashing up the four patterns to get what you were looking for. I loved reading your post and going - hey that's exactly what I say every time I see a pattern I like - "surely I can make it from something I've already got in my stash"...I like to think of it as thriftfullness, rather than stinginess.

I used Melilot, lengthened + Archer's bum ruffle for a relaxed winter shirtdress...now I'm trying to mash the Archer pattern with the Negroni (I want a convertible collar, dammit!). That gauze is beautiful and however you cut and taped that dress together, it all looks totally harmonious.

You are the mash up queen extraordinaire!! This looks fab and I think secretly you love the challenge of a hack. If you bought a suitable pattern where would be the fun in that? Me? I’m the most revolting goody two shoes one shall ever meet. Hash? I wouldn’t dare.